Memorial for crash victims set for Friday

A public memorial will be held late Friday morning for the seven firefighters, helicopter pilot and U.S. Forest Service employee who died on the Iron Complex fire Aug. 5 in Northern California.

Comment

MailTribune.com

Writer

Posted Aug. 14, 2008 at 12:01 AM

Posted Aug. 14, 2008 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

A public memorial will be held late Friday morning for the seven firefighters, helicopter pilot and U.S. Forest Service employee who died on the Iron Complex fire Aug. 5 in Northern California.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the Lithia Motors Amphitheater at the Jackson County Fairgrounds and Exposition Park in Central Point. The Expo can hold up to 5,800 people.

Gates open at 8:30 a.m. The amphitheater is at 1 Peninger Road and is accessible from Exit 33 off Interstate 5.

Featured speakers will include Marvin Brown, state forester for the Oregon Department of Forestry; Steve Metheny of Carson Helicopters, Inc.; Abigail Kimbell, head of the U.S. Forest Service; U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River; Mike Wheelock, president, Grayback Forestry, Inc.; and Tom Harbour, director of fire and aviation management, U.S. Forest Service.

Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski is expected to attend.

The tribute will include a family procession and ceremony followed by a private family reception.

The procession to the site begins at the Rogue Valley Mall at about 9 a.m., turns east on McAndrews Road, then heads north on Biddle Road toward the amphitheater. Twenty-five to 30 fire vehicles representing firefighters from throughout the West are expected to participate.

Local residents not wishing to view the processional should avoid the route because of expected heavy traffic.

Public parking will be available at Gate 4 at the Expo Center. Because temperatures on Friday are expected to crest 100 degrees, participants are encouraged to wear appropriate clothing and take safety precautions, officials said.

The tribute is being organized by Grayback Forestry Inc., Carson Helicopters Inc. and members of the interagency fire community, including the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

Those who want to contribute to help families of the victims, including the four who were injured, are encouraged to contact the Wildland Firefighter Foundation at www.wffoundation.org. Contributions to the Boise-based nonprofit group should include a reference to the Iron 44 Incident.

Additional information can be found on Grayback Forestry's Web site at www.graybackforestry.com.

Cards and letters of condolence also can be sent to Grayback Forestry at 1570 Avenue F, White City, OR 97503.